Light Therapy

Aka: Light Therapy

1. Indication: Seasonal Affective Disorder
   1. No severe Suicidal Ideation
   2. Medical reasons to avoid Antidepressants
   3. History of favorable response to prior Light Therapy
   4. No history of adverse reactions to Light Therapy
2. Equipment
   1. Light Therapy with Full Spectrum Light (10000 lux)
   2. Cost: $200 to $500 (Insurance may cover)
   3. Suppliers
      1. Apollo Light Systems: 800-545-9667
      2. Hughes Lighting Technologies: 973-663-1214
      3. Northern Light Technologies: 800-263-0066
      4. SunBox Company: 800-548-3968
3. Technique
   1. Duration
      1. Start with 10-15 minute exposure per day
      2. Increase exposure to 30 to 45 minutes per day
      3. Maximum exposure: 10000 lux at 90 minutes per day
      4. Look periodically at light during each session
   2. Timing
      1. Light exposure early in day
         1. Synchronizes with circadian rhythm
         2. Terman (2001) Arch Gen Psychiatry 58:69-75
   3. Protocols frome studies
      1. Exposure to 2500 lux for 2 hours per day or
      2. Exposure to 10,000 lux for 30 minutes per day
4. Adverse Effects
   1. Photophobia
   2. Headache
   3. Fatigue
   4. Irritability
   5. Hypomania
   6. Insomnia (avoid therapy too late in day)
5. References
   1. Golden (2005) Am J Psychiatry 162:656-62
   2. Levitan (2005) J Psychiatry Neurosci 30:72